Army veteran performing one million pushups to end child starvation

LittleRock, Arkansas – He goes by the name Sargent Pushup. The former soldier is traversing the nation in an effort to raise $1,000,000 for children who lack access to food. He is achieving this by performing a million pushups.

We met the vet this week as he was raising money for the Arkansas Food Bank.

30,000 pushups will be performed by Sgt. Pushup between November 1 and Thanksgiving. He is requesting that one dollar be given to the Arkansas Foodbank for each pushup he performs.

“I got work to do. We’ve got to take care of these children,” Sgt. Pushup urged.

In his hometown of Baltimore a few years ago, Patrick Parker formed his alter persona. Patrick Parker was seen by a Chick-Fil-A manager feeding a homeless guy.

The manager promised to give Parker a free sandwich coupon for every ten pushups he performed after being moved by the gesture. Parker discovered his limits after three hours and 2,300 pushups.

He gave up his car, on the road, and for the past about five years, he has tried to live in the shoes of starving kids. His van serves as his home; he takes showers at truck stops and occasionally spreads out his food over several days.

“If I can sacrifice my body, yes, it hurts. If I can sacrifice some time. Yes, I would like to do other things, but I don’t have children, so all those 75 million children, guess what? You’ve got an uncle, Uncle Sgt. Pushup”, Sgt. Pushup said.

Sgt Pushup hopes to raise $1,000,000 by December 31. Although his health and mobility have had their ups and downs this year, he has raised enough money to provide 675,000 dinners so far. Five people may be fed for one dollar, according to Brian Burton, CEO of the Arkansas Food Bank.

“They are moved by his compassion. His commitment,” Burton said. “People of all walks of life can come together and solve a solvable problem which is hunger in our community.”

Burton thinks that the period between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving is the ideal opportunity for people who are grateful or who know someone who has served to make a donation in their honor.

“When I was in Iraq, I prepared my body to die for my fellow soldier, but now my body, I’m preparing it to die for somebody’s child because it’s not just your child it’s everybody’s child,” Sgt. Pushup said.

After serving his country in Iraq, Patrick Parker was inspired by the words of John F. Kennedy. “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

Sgt. Pushup has his own outstanding spin. He said, “If I can show what one person can do, then why can’t we all do this?”

Additionally, he offers COVID education throughout the pandemic and activities to combat kid bullying.